Linear Guide Carriage With One-Piece Return Channels for Precise Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear motion guides face challenges in maintaining precision and simplicity in assembly while ensuring smooth running and minimizing wear, especially in polluted and fluctuating environments, due to complex component interactions and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of one-piece plastic components to form inner and outer boundary surfaces of return and deflection channels in rolling element circuits reduces component transitions and alignment inaccuracies, enabling a simpler and more precise assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used to form return and deflection channels in rolling element circuits, then assembly flexibility and ease of manufacture are improved, but alignment precision and wear resistance deteriorate due to component transitions and accumulation of alignment errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the return channel and deflection channels into a single integrated plastic component, eliminating the interfaces and transitions between separate components. This integration directly reduces alignment errors and improves precision while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized injection molding processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in rolling element circuits, then ease of repair and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and assembly effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple channel-forming components into one integrated plastic part, reducing the total component count and simplifying the overall device structure. This merger maintains adaptability by allowing the integrated component to be designed in various configurations while reducing assembly complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional multi-component designs are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but wear and smooth running behavior deteriorate due to component transitions subjected to centrifugal and compressive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the return channel and deflection channels into a single plastic component, eliminating the transitions and joints between separate parts. This removal of interfaces eliminates the concentration of centrifugal and compressive forces at component boundaries, thereby reducing wear and improving smooth running behavior.
4Volume of moving object
If small components are used in small linear motion guides, then compactness is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to handling and alignment challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple small channel components into one larger plastic part, reducing the number of small components that are difficult to handle and align. This integration maintains the compact size of the linear motion guide while significantly improving assembly ease by reducing the number of parts to be manipulated.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a carriage of a linear motion guide for arranging on a rail of the linear motion guide, said carriage having an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section and having at least one substantially U-shaped base body (15) which is supplemented with plastic components, wherein the carriage, in both legs of the U-shape, is in each case connected to at least one self-contained rolling body housing (7) which is kept open towards the rail in order to guide as precisely as possible on the rail and nevertheless being easy to assemble. According to the invention, at least parts of inner and outer boundary surfaces of a return channel (10) and both deflection channels (11) of one of the rolling body housings in the respective leg are formed by means of a one-piece plastic component in both legs of the carriage.